Scarecrow-88 I can remember the hoopla surrounding the "great pairing of Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts" at the time of 2001 and the backlash when it was realized they shared such little screen time together. What I found (and many others) interesting was how James Gandolfini (RIP) takes the film right from them as a gay hit-man needing his boss (supposedly Gene Hackman's Margolese) to get a historical artifact found in a mine not long ago…a gun made by a poor gunsmith with a heart-shaped bullet chamber, called The Mexican. Sent to retrieve the gun is Pitt by the dour, double-crossing Bob Balaban for Hackman unaware (for a bit until he is privy to a conversation) that he is to be off'd by "always just trying to do his part and nothing more", JK Simmons (another extraordinary scene-stealing supporting character actor) once in Mexico after the mission is successful. What happens to Pitt along the way is one of those "you gotta be kidding me" journeys full of hard luck and difficulty. Roberts is kidnapped by Gandolfini as "leverage" so that Pitt will do as he is supposed to without any attempt to achieve financial gain for himself. What happens between Gandolfini and Roberts is actually the true heart and soul of the film because they learn a lot about themselves through the constant appraisal of her relationship with Pitt. In a second viewing of the film (the first was so agonizing I hadn't watched this in thirteen years), I realized that if Pitt and Roberts, considering the characters they are trapped in, had been on screen any longer than necessary, the experience would have been even more abrasive than it already turned out to be. Roberts can be so likable when sharing time with Gandolfini and an absolute pariah when with Pitt, I thought I was watching two different characters on screen. Pitt works the "aw shucks, I'm just trying to keep from being killed and get the gun to where it needs to go" part throughout, taking a lot of frustrating developments (that Balaban wanted him dead, that his car is stolen, that a cop takes the gun, that he must tolerate locals and their firecrackers, guns going off in the air, the unfortunate accidental death of Margolese' grandson thanks to the celebration that Pitt is annoyed by, a passport swap accident, interference in the mission of the gun) and holding onto his wits, even after Roberts seems to be okay and back with him. The constant bickering between Roberts and Pitt, seemingly presented as a charming humorous state of affairs in how they spend most of their time together, really gets old fast. Gandolfini's talk with Roberts before meeting Pitt about never giving up on love even when it appears enough is enough is probably one of the best (if it wasn't for Hackman's lone scene about the Mexican's importance) scenes in the film. The violence that does happen in the film is primarily just an example of the nature of Pitt's obligation to gangsters (he is a lousy driver and hit Margolese' car which was carrying a live body in the trunk, leading to Margolese' arrest!), and how it is bound to happen as the Mexican is a desirable artifact perhaps worth quite a pretty penny. Balaban deadpans in the same league as Bill Murray so his stone cold face doling out orders and insults gives him a great villain for the film here. A mixed bag, in my opinion, that could have been better if Pitt and Roberts been more compatible and less combative as a couple in the film. The gun's back story is amusingly presented in differing ways by each person who tells it to Pitt, not particularly knowledgeable in the gun's history but just wanting his situation to be over. Gandolfini and Roberts in the diner discussing his sexual orientation is sweet.

willcundallreview Rating-7/10The Mexican is a film that although is never rated that highly, I felt it was kind of good and was enjoyable even with it's flaws that cropped up a lot. With an average acting performance and a basic script you'd be right if you didn't have much expectation going into this, but just give it a chance and it can fully enjoyed by all film fans. I personally felt it was Pretty Good and here below is why I, but many other didn't, felt that way.The story is slow and then kind of fast and fluxuate's between both varied pacing, the plot isn't all that exciting either but it makes for very watchable film and just give it a chance and you may be entertained by this. The film has about 50 scenes where you think it will end but it never does, frustrating yes but I did feel the film was worth watching, even after going through so many end parts to the movie.Brad Pitt is average in this and although he does nothing to harm the film necessarily he doesn't really ever take a firm hold on the piece. Julia Roberts and James Gandolfini work together well and although Roberts as with Pitt isn't at her best, Gandolfini show's off his talents with beautiful ease and although this film is unknown these days, Gandolfini was just brilliant. I didn't care much for support though which did harm the film with stale performances, luckily they aren't seen as much as the main cast at all.Gore Verbinski in the directing role does a job that is fairly good, but is not his best and knowing what he can sometimes do, he fails with this and the positives of the film are not down to him. I felt one part of the film that I personally loved was the setting with some camera shots being doubly beautiful due to location, one great example is where Pitt is crossing a crossroads and looking each way, great camera work with a great locality to match.The film is too long and stretches too much to be considered a straight good film, although it does a good job with the majority of the story, it just falters towards the end and as I said with the multiple possible endings it just can annoy you. The acting also as previously mentioned is poor all round and sometimes it feels like a slight comedy but just manages to avoid being funny as well. Not much more to say negativity way but if you see for yourself, I am sure you may find more bad things than I did.It is hard to say who will like this, people who enjoy fun adventures may enjoy this because it is quite fun, not a stable film by any stretch of the imagination but excitable all the same. Pitt fans won't like this too much as he doesn't get to well, act, and Roberts is the same and seems they were put together as the stars but never see each other in the story. Don't watch it if you don't want to watch a long film with little new to offer, but watch it in a good mood and it is enjoyable.Overall a 7/10, many many people give it lower but I really did feel it was Firmly Kind of Good and as I have said all the way through this review, the film is genuinely a fun one, with lots to offer too. Watch it as I say in a good mood because once you overlook the more serious parts of the film, the more light hearted parts become fun and can be enjoyed, given you open your mind a bit and stop thinking about this critically.

SnoopyStyle Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt) has to bring back a pistol called 'The Mexican' with a guy back from Mexico as his next job for the mob. His girlfriend Samantha Barzel (Julia Roberts) is sick of his mob jobs. He decides to go with the mob. Only Samantha gets kidnapped, and Jerry has a lot of difficulties delivering the cursed gun.I think they're suppose to be white trash characters. They're way too pretty. Having these two A-listers may not be the right move. And it doesn't quite work as a comedy. Both Pitt and Roberts try very hard to be wacky. Pitt especially try hard to be stupid. The story is idiosyncratic wallowing in its quirkiness. None of it is particularly funny. However James Gandolfini does take an interesting turn as the kidnapper.

jotix100 Never having seen this film when it made its commercial debut, we were able to catch it when it showed recently on a cable channel. "The Mexican" is a film that combines genres. It tries to be a madcap comedy, a road film, and a crime comedy. Gore Verbinsky tries to make sense of the J. H. Wyman's screenplay, without much success.Fans of Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt were probably disappointed with the finished product because they only appear together for a short time. Brad Pitt plays the goofy Jerry, a gofer for a mobster who is sent to Mexico to retrieve the valuable silver pistol. Julia Roberts is Samantha, Jerry's girlfriend, whose main ambition is to relocate to Las Vegas to be a croupier.The viewer is rewarded by the wonderful supporting cast. James Gandolfini plays a bad guy sent to get Jerry in Mexico. His character is the most complex of the film and to boot, he is gay, something that Samantha notices without much trouble. J. K. Simmons, sporting a blond wig, has some good moments as Ted. Bob Balaban is also on hand to play the man who sent Jerry to get the pistol. Gene Hackman shows up toward the end showing why he is one of the best character actor of his generation.